Dear fellow practitioners, greetings to all!
Words can be true or false, their fruits distinct—do you wish to abandon falsehood and achieve pure merit? Today, guided by the Sutra of the Ten Virtuous Deeds, we explore the law of cause and effect in abstaining from false speech, using truth to dispel afflictions, establishing the identity of a Bodhisattva, and attaining the eight qualities praised by the heavens. Let us enter the true path together!
Dispelling Afflictions: Establishing a Bodhisattva’s Identity
Practice starts with abandoning false speech. Falsehood is like an affliction program, obstructing purity; by eliminating this program, we establish a Bodhisattva’s identity and undertake Bodhisattva deeds—with compassion, loving-kindness, joy, and equanimity as standard attributes.
Precise Cultivation: Vowing and Refining Conditions
Precisely focusing on the ten virtuous deeds, we vow to cultivate causes, constantly reflect and train, refine conditions, gradually maturing and bearing fruit. The Sutra of the Ten Virtuous Deeds states: “If one abstains from false speech, one attains eight qualities praised by the heavens.” What are these eight?
- (Cause) Abstaining from false speech, (Fruit) the mouth is ever pure with the fragrance of the utpala (blue lotus)—naturally fragrant, needing no brushing or rinsing.
- (Cause) Abstaining from false speech, (Fruit) gaining the trust and submission of all worldly beings—absolute trust, naturally revered.
- (Cause) Abstaining from false speech, (Fruit) speech becomes proven truth, cherished by humans and deities—whatever is affirmed holds, accepted by all.
- (Cause) Abstaining from false speech, (Fruit) constantly comforting beings with loving words—capable of enacting the Bodhisattva’s loving speech, one of the four means of attraction.
- (Cause) Abstaining from false speech, (Fruit) attaining sublime joy with the three karmas purified—body, speech, and mind ever refreshed and clear.
- (Cause) Abstaining from false speech, (Fruit) words free of error or omission, the heart ever joyful—precise expression without mistakes, abiding in happiness.
- (Cause) Abstaining from false speech, (Fruit) speech revered, followed by humans and deities—all respect and obey every word spoken.
- (Cause) Abstaining from false speech, (Fruit) wisdom supreme, unconquerable—matchless wisdom beyond all restraint.
The Merit of True Speech: Pervading the Universe
If this merit is dedicated to Anuttara-samyak-sambodhi, upon becoming a Buddha, one attains the Tathagata’s truthful speech. When the fruit ripens, these eight qualities—fragrance of the utpala to invincible wisdom—manifest throughout the universe, all born of true speech.
The Bodhisattva’s Standard: Compassion, Loving-Kindness, Joy, and Equanimity
Abstaining from false speech achieves these eight virtues, enabling us to act as Bodhisattvas with compassion, loving-kindness, joy, and equanimity, benefiting beings with boundless merit.
Dear fellow practitioners, abandoning falsehood establishes truth, dispelling affliction programs; precisely cultivating causes through the ten virtues leads to growth; achieving the eight virtues fulfills us, with compassion, loving-kindness, joy, and equanimity pervading all directions. May we forsake falsehood for truth and fulfill the Bodhisattva’s merit! Thank you all!
